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Great to meet you

Call me Jon. I'm a sucker for well-told stories, untamed adventure and all things visual. I breathe life into brands by blending marketing strategy with web-design, photography, videography, and social media.

I've collaborated with over fifteen companies and have more than four years of experience as a content curator and visual designer. From narrative based content population to customer relationship management, I work every day to help brands develop effective digital marketing systems.

The majority of my work is influenced by a deep appreciation for simplicity and natural beauty. In my personal and professional life, this passion has driven me towards pine covered mountains, fast flowing rivers and empty beaches.

I believe that art, design or marketing (ideally a blend of all three) should take your audience on a journey and represent the core of what makes your brand unique.

I look forward to sharing my creativity and dedication with your company.

a few of the brands I've worked with

snapshots from the office

Finding the best sunset perch in Joshua Tree

The habitual ritual while working on an project with Kelty

Getting the job done with a cutting board reflector

Finding the perspective for Big Island Farms

In the Bridger Range on assignment for Nectar Sunglasses

Somewhere in Eastern Montana getting shots for Farm to Feet socks

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My Design Philosophy

Is it Functional?

Growing up in North Carolina, I spent countless afternoons watching my dad, a master wood worker, sketch plans and build furniture for our home. Here, the seed of functional design was sowed. I try to approach every project as he did, first recognizing the underlying function of an object because it will directly determine the design and medium. For me, design should be dedicated, above all, to achieving its functional purpose or maximizing the solution to the problem at hand.

Is it timeless?

I believe that the great designs of the world are enduring. Rebranding is an expensive undertaking. My goal is to create designs that stand up for themselves in the face of ever-changing digital media. As my dad would say, this is a 'measure twice, cut once' mentality.

Is it refined?

As a designer, it is always tempting to rely on extra features or animations to diversify a project. However, I think strong designs don't rely on this type of compensation. In my work, I often prefer to nix any aspect of the design which is not heavily focused on the core message. I've found that this results in a more clearly defined brand, product or service representation.

When I’m working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it’s wrong.

— Richard Buckminister Fuller

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My Marketing Philosophy

What is the Story?

I believe that the new world of digital marketing demands transparency. Brands are finding it more difficult than ever to hide behind phony 'Marlboro Man' facades. Every brand has a authentic story to tell. My process is about figuring out exactly what that story is and presenting it to your audience in manner that can't be ignored.

Maybe don’t call it Social Media. Maybe don’t call it anything. Just be human and tell your story.

— Gary Vaynerchuk

Is it written for the the customer?

There is more information online than ever before and tomorrow there will be more. Faced with these implications, brands must offer value to their audience when sharing their message. Helpful, thoughtfully written content will not only increase readership but also present your brand as a trusted authority in your industry.

Is the imagery powerful?

There are countless studies pointed towards our growing visual nature in the world of digital marketing. Therefore, powerful imagery or video is one of the most valuable assets a brand can acquire. It's tempting to populate your website, social media or blog with stock photography (shutterbug, 500px, etc.) and this may be a great place to start. However, I believe that there is unfathomable amounts of value in using quality imagery that is authentic to (and includes) your brand.